Nasir Imam
6 July 2009
Determined to realise the 6,000 megawatts of electricity promised the nation by December 2009, the Federal Government has moved to generate 340 megawatts from Gurara Dam originally built to supply raw water to the Federal Capital Territory.
Other advantages the Federal Government is poised to tap from the Gurara Dam project include large scale all year round mechanised irrigation farming, livestock and fishery production.
The FCT Minister, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero who led a Presidential team comprising the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, Minister of State, Agriculture and Water Resources, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze as well as the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, to an on the spot assessment of the ongoing work at the Gurara Dam at the weekend, assured Nigerians that 6,000 megawatts of electricity is a promise that will be kept going by the measures put on ground.
Senator Aliero emphasised that "the promise made by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to provide 6,000 megawatts of power to the nation by December 2009, is still on track because all hands are on deck to realise it".
According to him, the Federal Government is now experimenting large scale all year round mechanised irrigation farming at the Gurara Dam site to drastically improve food security in the country.
Senator Aliero who also inspected the pilot scheme of the irrigation farm remarked that the Gurara Irrigation Layout which is about 4,000 hectares has been sub-divided into three lots with lots one and three using Centre Pivot and lot two using canal system to afford the local farmers around the Dam exploit the opportunity.
He revealed that so far maize, peanuts, ground nuts and rice have been cultivated at the irrigation farm and they are doing very because Maize is presently being harvested.
The Minister reiterated that the Dam would spur economic activities since food processing companies will definitely spring up around the site as a result of the large scale food production.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources said that the Federal Government is working diligently to ensure food security in the country; noting that this Gurara Irrigation Layout when it becomes fully operational would stabilise food production especially rice that can be compared to all those imported today.
"This is an opportunity the Federal Government would not let go because the Dam would now serve multi-purpose functions apart from the raw water to be transferred to the Lower Usuma Dam, electricity, irrigation farms, livestock and fisheries are just added advantage," he stressed.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Malam Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, stated that the Federal Government is embarking on this multi-purpose project to kick start economic activities which would form the basis for development and economic independence of the country at the long run.
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